Procurement and Supply Chain Management

Stage 1

You will develop knowledge and understanding in the key areas of general management and procurement including economics, supply chain management and quality management and excellence models. Transferable skills for postgraduate study and professional practice will be established.

Stage 2

You will continue to develop your knowledge in further key areas of the specialism including strategic purchasing, purchasing principles and the law, finance for managers and operations management. You are expected to become increasingly self-supporting and embark on more independent study.

Stage 3

The Capstone module is designed to provide you with an opportunity to integrate master's level knowledge and skills by independently working on a research focused project from a degree related discipline. Personal and professional skills such as research, communication and presentation skills will be developed.

Extended Master's

We offer an extended Master’s route, starting in September, on our traditional 1-year route which incorporates a 12 month placement. This route has a duration of 24 months, and will follow the same teaching programme as the 1 year course. You will receive training, guidance and support to support you through the recruitment and selection stages for the jobs on offer from our dedicated Employability and Enrichment Hub team.

Student stories

Hear from our students and graduates about their experiences studying this course:

Learning Methods

You will learn through a combination of lectures, seminars and workshop sessions. These comprise of a mix of group study, discussion, simulation and presentations of findings by teams and individuals. You will work as an individual and also as part of a team on case studies, team activities, presentations and discussions. 

Access to our virtual learning environment, CampusMoodle, is also provided giving you access from home to learning materials (including videos, e-books and journals).

Weeks 1-6

Required to attend: 3 x 3 hour sessions on campus* 

Weeks 7-11

Required to attend: 1 hour session per week* 

Remainder of the course

Required to attend: 2 x 3 hour session per week* 

*Please note, there is no guarantee that the two sessions will be on the same day.

Activity Summary

• Lectures - 15-30 students per group, 96 hours per term
• Tutorial - 15-30 students per group, 48 hours per term
• Project Supervision - 1-4 students per group, 12 hours per term
• Independent Study - 456 hours per term

How long is a Procurement and Supply Chain Management course?

This Procurement and Supply Chain Management course can be successfully completed between 12-36 months.

Assessment

Typically students are assessed each year:

• 5 written assignments, including essays
• 2 reports
• 1 Capstone project
• 1 practical skills assessment
• 2 presentations/posters

Feedback

We aim to provide you with feedback within 20 working days of hand-in for all written exams, coursework and practical exams.

Staff Delivering on This Course

Academic staff who teach on this course have worked in a range of professional backgrounds, are ‘business-connected’ and use professional networks and their academic research to ensure teaching is professionally relevant.

Our staff have either achieved Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, or are working towards this.  This is a professional recognition of lecturer practice, impact and leadership in teaching and learning. In addition, many have featured in the annual Support and Teaching staff with Appreciation and Recognition (STAR) awards voted by the students and organised by RGU:Union.

We have a proactive Industry Liaison Group who provide input to course redesign and may contribute to classes through guest lectures and masterclasses.

Independent Study

The course encourages you to work autonomously and to take responsibility for your own learning and professional development. The main vehicle for independent learning is the Capstone Project where you will develop your learning in many aspects: the nature of research, writing a proposal, sourcing relevant information, data collection and analysis, research ethics and presenting work.

Academic Support

The Inclusion Centre advises and supports students who disclose a sensory or mobility impairment, chronic medical condition, mental health issue, dyslexia and other specific learning differences. Applicants are encouraged to arrange a pre-entry visit to discuss any concerns and to view the facilities.

Online Learning & Support

All undergraduate and postgraduate students, whether you are learning on campus or by online learning, benefit from using our collaborative virtual learning environment, CampusMoodle. You will be provided with 24/7 online access to your learning material and resources, along with the ability to interact with your class members and tutors for discussion and support.

Study Skills Support

The Study Support Team provides training and support to all students in:

• Academic writing
• Study skills (note taking, exam techniques, time management, presentation)
• Maths and statistics
• English language
• Information technology support

Library Support

The Library offers support for your course, including the books, eBooks, and journals you will need. We also offer online reading lists for many modules, workshops and drop-ins on searching skills and referencing, and much more.

Job Prospects

This course aims to transform individuals within, or aspiring to be within, the supply chain management profession. Career options are broad and varied, with opportunities in public and private organisations across industries ranging from energy to retail, and aerospace to construction.

Is Procurement and Supply Chain Management a good career choice?

Previous graduates have progressed into specialist procurement and supply chain management roles across the globe including:

• Supply Chain Manager (Retail)
• Logistics Manager (Oil and Gas)
• Buyer (Aerospace)

12 Month Placement

For those on our Extended Master’s route (24 months Full Time On Campus) you will have the opportunity to embark on a 12 month placement on completion of the teaching programme.

Placement opportunities are real jobs in an extensive range of organisations from small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to global multinationals, and is an excellent way to test your academic knowledge, develop transferable skills and develop your business networks. The employing organisation is likely to be a source of rich data for the Capstone module and you will be encouraged to research an organisational issue of your choosing – likely identified through discussion with the placement employer. You will also complete a reflective e-portfolio which captures the skills development through the placement period.  

Throughout the placement you will be assigned both a workplace mentor and an academic mentor and will receive ongoing support to enhance your career development.

N.B. You are responsible for finding the placement, with support from the placement team, and as such the University cannot guarantee that all students will be successful in securing a placement. If unsuccessful, your course fee attached to the work experience element will be refunded.

What is needed for an MSc in Procurement and Supply Chain Management?

• Applicants normally hold a 2:2 undergraduate honours degree or its equivalent in any subject discipline.
• Applicants with a lower degree classification and/or relevant work experience will be considered on a case by case basis.

English Language Requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English should have an IELTS of 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5, or an equivalent.

We accept a variety of in-country and secure English language tests, find out more:

Please note, some courses may require a higher standard of English than stated in this page. Contact admissions@rgu.ac.uk for further information.

International Students

International students who do not meet our direct entry requirements for this course can gain additional entry points through our International College at Robert Gordon University.